Game-counter



y(No Model.)v

C. W. LE COUNT.

GAMB COUNTER.

No. 359,792. l Paten-ted Mar. 22, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE@ CHARLES'WI. LE COUNT, OF SOUTH NORVALK, CONNECTICUT.

GAM E-COUNTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,792, dated Marcil 22, 1887.

Application filed December 13, 1886. Serial No. 221,352. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern,

Beit known that I, CnARLEs W. LE COUNT, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Norwalk, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and plates having holes to receive pins are let int-o a block of wood, and has for its object to simplify and cheapen the construction, and at the same time to greatly improve the operation of the device.

With these ends in view I have devised the simple and novel construction, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification,

' numbers beingused to indicate the several parts of the device.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a Cribbage-board, a portion of the plate being broken away to show the supporting-rib; Fig. 2, a plan View of the opposite side of the block, illustrating counters for whist, euchre, and similar games, one of the plates being removed to show the supporting-ribs; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the center of the block and plates. K

l denotes the block, which is provided with one or more recesses, 2, to receive packs of cards, and a recess, 3, to receive the pins. These recesses are provided in practice with sliding covers, which, as they form no portion of my present invention, I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate in the drawings.

4 denotes a plate, having the usual pin-holes, 5, required in playing the game of' Cribbage, which is let into one side of the block, and 6 plates upon the opposite side of the block, also having pin-holes and corresponding numerals adapted for use in counting the various other games. Heretofore it has been common to cast the plates having pin-holes, and to secure them in the recesses in the block by lugs or screws. This is an important item in the cost of production, as the plates have to be carefully polished and plated.

The essential principle of my present invention is that I use plates blanked out from sheet cesses 8 in the block. The tops of' these ribs 1 liejust sufficiently lower than the surface of the block to compensate for the thickness orn the metal of' the plates, so that the surfaces of the plates and the block are flush. It will of course be understood that any number of these ribs may be used. In Fig. l I have illustrated one rib and in I `ig. 2 two ribs.

In order to hold the plates firmly in place in the recesses, and at the saine time to dispense with screws and lugs, I provide a downwardlyturned flange, 9, around the edges of the plates. These flanges are made slightly longer than the recesses, so that the plates have to be sprung in, and when once in position are firmly held there. In order to give perfect stiffness and firmness to the plates, I depress certain portions thereof in the act of blanking them out, as at 10, leaving raised'portions l1, in which the pinholes are formed. In order to give a wide bearing for the pins in usetliat is, a much greater bearing surface than the thickness ofthe metal-I form the piirlioles by pressing out the metal with peculiarlyformed cutters, so that lips 12, preferably i'ou r in number, are formed upon the under side of the plate, which press against the pins and hold them rmly in use.

It will of course be understood that the details of construction may be widel y varied without departing from the spirit of' my in` vention.

I claim- 1. In a gamecounter, a block having recesses, in combination with sheet-metal plates having pin-holes and flanges 9, adapted to bear against th e ed ges of' the recesses, whereby` said plates are held firmly in position.

2. The block having recesses 8 and supporting-ribs in said recesses, in combination with sheet-metal plates, which rest on said ribs and are provided with pin-holes and iianges, and adapted to bear against the edges of' the recesses, substantially as described.

3. The block having recesses S and supporting-ribs 7, in combination with-sheet-metal plates having raised and depressed portions, a ange around the edge of the plate, and pinholes in said raised portions.

6. A gainecounter consisting` of a block having recesses on its opposite sides, supporting-ribs in said recesses, and sheet-metal plates let into said recesses and resting en said ribs, and provided with pin-holes having lips at their under side, whereby the pins are supported in use.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES \V. LE COUNT.

Witnesses:

GEORGE F. BEARsE, JOHN XV. CURNO'W.

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